Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1887-07-11

IN. the mOrtuarN dwindllhg ih Nit
shimmering distance behind a grove
Of granares brilliant with scarlet aoW-
ers rose mp in front, and here she
struck the road close 10 the village.
As she approached the low hank
which separated the road from the
fields. she also approached the sound
OF shouting. Il fell upon her ears
hut did not reach her brain. She ran
on painting. her tongue hanging out
like dogs. She was quite uuoon-
scious OF the sights and sounds
around, and saw only the daughter
whom she would gladly have given
her life to save.
The shouting was followed hy "a
discharge of 6reauns. Aud a. Ma
ria gained the top 81 the bank she
saw, i'm the road beneath. the body
OF man lying in pool of blood
while a group Of excited peasants,
with guns In their hands, stood be-
tween il and the village. Recalled
to herself by this ghastly spectacle
she lowered on the top of the bank
but the urgency Of her mission inn
PEELED her onward. Shuddering she
scrambled down into the road aud
began TO run toward the Villagers.
They were re-loading their guns
about 30 yards away. When they
saw Maria advancing they shouted
and gesticulated at her. II sub
sequently appeared that, the govern
ment having refused them a Gordon.
they established one themselves. She
did not understand them at first, bat
there was no installing their threat
ening attitude.
Il want TO see the doctor" she
painted
Then you cant see him" cried
the spokesman OF the party. $50
back, or we'll shoot YOU as We have
shot that mule lying yonder." He
pointed at the dead man.
but my daughter j. dying la the
mortuary,' she pleaded.
Better that than that We should
all perish
MAY the Virgin have pity on me
What am to dor
While speaking she had contrived
TO draw little nearer, bat the arti-
fee failed. She was checked by a
general rising Of guns.
Another step and We fire. the
men shouted AZ her.
In a paroXysm Of passionate grief
she flung herself down by the road
side and wept. They were cowardly
brutes, she told them, bat they only
laughed at her. In the end she had
TO drag herself back 10 the mortuary
Here she sat down and sobbed b..
side her dead daughter-dead, "a,
she was now forced 70 admit. Ever
now she did not see the dead body Of
the unfortunate English lady; sh,
could see only poor Paca, and think
only Of the time when a laughing
child used 10 toddle across the cot
tage floor and clasp It's mother
knees, 10 be caught up and GROVE,
over and kissed with exquisite rap
ture. How vividly that happy pas
rose up before her. What glorioul
possibilities she bad pictured FOR he
little daughter. What beautiful pal
aces she had built. They had tam
bled one by one, and now here wal
the end Of them all.
When her grief had grown calmer
it occurred 10 her that one melancholl
duty remained, and she left the mos
tuary in order - get men 10 do IL
This time she went out ~ the gate 81
the cemetery.
The road contained many peasants
some on foot, aud others riding 10
their carte. They were augrily re
turning from Torano, where they has
been refused admission. Maria stop
ped each party ia turn, aud aske,
them 70 come and bury her daughter
But they all shrank from her a. from
a pestilence. Not one would lend ,
helping hand. She was la despair
until a woman, kinder than the rest
gave her a few planks, q rope, and q
packet of nails.
With these materials Maria, faint
aud feeble as she Was, set - work "
make = coffin. A large stone served
a. hammer. Sitting on tBe nOorI
close b. her dead daughter, this Won
derful old woman began aud finished
her task. Then, after infinite trouble,
she placed the body 10 fhe rude boa
she had constructed. liut Oh, bow
hard il was - cover up that beloved
face which she was never ~ see
again What bitter tears she shod
before she could DO IL What torture
she suffered when il was done only
the thOugit that much remained ~
90 enabled hei - 90 on uith her tack
She prayed feryently - ths HirgIa
Tor her dead daughter That uas
poor Paca's funeral sersios.
A spade stood elose " the dasYr -
the m0rtuap with this Mana seui
ont and dug . sbailow grave. When
ID Wa done she harneaaed heraeif ~
the coffin - means - ne rDl,e aud
/ painfully and iabori0usiy, mch bJ
incii aud foot b. foot, dragged ii 0ui
- IL resting place. This sas tils
seoOnd r0ugh jOumrg that iss5r Pacn